Build Smarter.
Win Faster.

💻

Getting Started

Laptop Setup Guide

School vs personal laptop, minimum specs for VS Code + OnShape, and a storage protocol for team laptops.

Laptop Guide →

🖥️

Getting Started

Setup: VS Code + PROS + EZ Template

Install VS Code, PROS, and EZ Template. Configure IntelliSense and upload your first project to the Brain.

Start Setup →

🚀

Getting Started

First 30 Minutes in VS Code

No experience needed. Read main.cpp, make your first change, and write a working autonomous in one guided session.

Start Here →

🧩

Getting Started

Blocks → Text Code

Coming from VEXcode blocks? Side-by-side comparisons, VS Code tour, and a quick-reference cheatsheet.

Beginner Guide →

🪾

Getting Started

Clawbot Training Platform

Learn EZ Template on the standard Clawbot. IMU wiring, chassis config, and progressive training exercises.

Train on Clawbot →

📡

Getting Started

Brain Download & Auton Selector

Upload code, navigate the Brain program screen, and wire the EZ Template auton selector.

Upload & Select →

🏷️

Programming

Naming Conventions & Reserved Words

camelCase vs PascalCase, complete list of reserved PROS/EZ names, and a naming quiz.

Name It Right →

⭐

Competition

AWP & Robot Skills Strategy

AWP conditions, skills scoring, rankings, and an interactive run tracker with split times.

Skills Strategy →

🎮

Competition

Driver Practice Curriculum

Structured 6-phase practice progression from basic driving to match simulation. Session log saves to device.

Practice Protocol →

🏎

Programming

Driver Control Tuning

Input curves, deadband, turbo scaling, button remapping, and one-button macros with a live visualizer.

Tune Controls →

📅

Competition

Season Timeline & Planner

Five season phases, key milestones, and a planner that calculates target dates from your competition calendar.

Open Planner →

🚫

Competition

Robot Inspection Guide

What inspectors check, size limits, legal parts, wiring rules, and a pre-event checklist.

Prepare for Inspection →

⚡

Programming

Exit Conditions & Chained Movements

pid_wait_until(), pid_wait_quick_chain(), and swing moves that recover 1–2 seconds per auton run.

Chain Your Auton →

⚡

Hardware

Wiring Guide & ESD Protection

Port assignment strategy, cable management, service loops, and ESD prevention before it kills your ports.

Wire It Right →

🎮

Competition

Partner Controller

PROS dual-controller setup, dividing driver/operator roles, and building team communication protocols.

Build Drive Team →

🏎

Programming

Curvature (Cheesy) Drive

FRC 254’s control scheme: gentle arcs at speed, tight turns when slow. Live visualizer included.

Try Cheesy Drive →

📄

Programming

Organizing Code Across Files

Split main.cpp into subsystem files with header guards and extern. Find any code in 10 seconds.

Clean Up Code →

💾

Programming

Git & Version Control

Four essential commands, branching for experiments, and tagging competition code. Never lose auton again.

Never Lose Code →

🚫

Programming

Stall Detection

Cut power when intake jams or arm stalls. Current-based and velocity-based detection with auto-reverse.

Protect Motors →

⚙️

Programming

Finite State Machine

Replace nested if-else spaghetti with clean enum-driven logic for mechanisms and sensor-responsive autons.

Build Smart Logic →

⚡

Programming

Bang-Bang Controller

Full power to target, full reverse, repeat. Zero tuning parameters. Live simulation included.

Learn Bang-Bang →

🎾

Programming

Take Back Half (TBH) Controller

One gain, less oscillation than bang-bang. Purpose-built for flywheel velocity control.

Implement TBH →

🌍

Hardware

V5 GPS Sensor

Absolute X/Y/heading, no drift. Mounting rules, PROS setup, and comparison with odometry pods.

Use GPS →

📊

Programming

Data Logging to SD Card

Write motor and PID data to microSD, graph in Excel. Turns tuning from guesswork into evidence.

Log Your Data →

⚙️

Programming

Code Style & Autoformatting

Shift+Alt+F formats instantly. .clang-format setup so every team member’s code looks the same.

Polish Code →

🏆

Competition

Autonomous Tournament Strategy

Three-tier auton portfolio, alliance coordination, expected-value math, and pre-match checklist.

Play Smarter →

📊

Competition

Match Scouting Sheet

Interactive scouting form that saves to your device. Sortable records for alliance selection.

Start Scouting →

⚡

Programming

Drive and Operate Simultaneously

Intake + arm + drive at once. Inline commands, pid_wait_until triggers, and PROS Tasks for full concurrency.

Concurrent Actions →

💨

Hardware

Pneumatics Best Practices

Air budget estimator, build practices, solenoid wiring, 5 programming patterns, single vs double-acting.

Master Pneumatics →

🌎

Competition

Route Planning

Match vs Skills planning frameworks, PATH.JERRYIO guide, and the six field variables that break routes.

Plan Routes →

⚡

Hardware

V5 Battery Management

LED codes, charging rotation, skills battery protocol, Battery Medic, PROS API, storage best practices.

Manage Battery →

🌐

Programming

Custom Brain Screen

480×240 competition dashboard: colour-coded auton, timer, motor temps, IMU — all from one PROS Task.

Build Dashboard →

📝

Competition

Engineering Notebook & Design Process

Testing protocol, decision matrices, and STEM connections built to the RECF rubric — with interview answer frameworks for every section.

Win Design Award →

🔬

Competition

Testing, Data & Iteration System

Structured test protocols, performance tracking templates, iteration loops, and a 4-step failure protocol — how top teams test and improve systematically.

Test Like a Top Team →

⚡

Competition

Game Analysis — Push Back 2025–26

Complete scoring breakdown, points-per-second efficiency calculator, match score estimator, meta-game analysis, in-tournament game reading, and a pre-match strategic decision framework.

Analyze the Game →

CAD / Onshape

💻

Onshape Setup for VRC

Education account, VEX V5 part library, team document structure, naming conventions, and camera controls — everything before your first CAD session.

Start Setup →

CAD / Onshape

🚗

First Drivetrain in Onshape

Plan before you build. Frame assembly, shaft stack planning, bearing placement, wheel spacing, motor positioning, gear ratio — and a full verification checklist.

Design Drivetrain →

CAD / Onshape

⚙️

Mechanism Concept Sprint

Generate 3 concepts, model the top 2 in CAD, run a weighted tradeoff matrix, and select the winner with documented reasoning. This is the EDP done properly.

Run Sprint →

CAD / Onshape

🔧

CAD to Build Handoff

Turn your Onshape model into a BOM, screw plan, and fabrication notes so the build team can execute without asking questions. Includes notebook CAD evidence guide.

Build the Handoff →

CAD / Onshape

✂️

Custom Parts & Fabrication

Delrin vs polycarbonate, Onshape drawing setup, 1:1 PDF workflow for hand cutting, DXF export for the X-Carve CNC router, tolerances, and pre-cut checklist.

Cut Smarter →

Hardware

🔧

V5RC Tools Guide

Every tool Spartan Design uses — hand tools, pit box essentials, power tools, VEX vs Robosource comparison, three starter kits, and safety best practices.

Read the Guide →

Hardware

🎰

Intake Design for V5RC

Rollers, top-down intakes, and conveyors built to collect cleanly, hand off smoothly, and avoid jams.

Build Intake →

Hardware

⬆️

Lift Systems Guide

Compare direct arms, four-bars, six-bars, and DR4Bs so you choose the simplest lift that actually solves the game.

Choose Lift →

Hardware

🎯

Flywheel Shooter Guide

Build accurate, repeatable flywheel systems with better compression, spin-up, consistency, and velocity control.

Tune Shooter →

Hardware

🚀

Launcher Systems Guide

Catapults, slingshots, and punchers focused on release timing, reset speed, power, and reliability under match pressure.

Build Launcher →

Hardware

🔁

PTOs & Motor Sharing

Use power take-offs to shift motors between systems and decide when the extra complexity is worth it.

Learn PTOs →

Competition

⚡

Quick-Swap Motor Mounting

Replace a failed motor in 10–30 seconds using zip ties instead of screws. Advanced competition technique with full tradeoff analysis.

Read Technique →

Competition

🎯

Tournament Pit Crew System

Roles, between-match workflows, emergency repair protocols, and pit rules that separate teams that execute from teams that scramble.

Build Your System →

Programming

🤖

Advanced Robot Programming

6-motor drive, arm presets, intake toggle, scuff controls, macros, and pneumatics — full competition code.

Full Robot Code →

Getting Started

🚀

Level Up: Advanced Text Coding

Error messages, debugging, compilation pipeline, formatting habits, and 5 practice exercises.

Level Up →

Programming

📍

Odometry — Know Where You Are

Tracking wheel theory, EZ Template odom setup, coordinate paths, distance sensor correction, and tuning.

Set Up Odometry →

Programming

🔬

PID Diagnostics Guide

Symptom → diagnosis → fix for 8 PID behaviors. EZ Template tuner and pre-competition checklist.

Diagnose PID →

Hardware

🔪

Build Your Odometry Pod

Parts list, bracket template, step-by-step assembly, mounting position, and verification checklist.

Build the Pod →

Hardware

🔍

Robot Pre-Programming Check

Physical inspection, port assignment log, motor spin test, and a 16-point pre-flight checklist before touching code.

Check Robot →

Competition

🏁

Competition Template & Match Day

PROS hook functions, the full match sequence, and a competition-day pre-match checklist.

Match Day Guide →

Competition

🏆

Mission Control — Judge & Notebook Prep

Understand all 8 rubric concepts, practice your judge interview, and earn Design Award points.

Prep for Judges →

🗺

Competition

beginner

Engineering Notebook Pathway

All four notebook guides in one place. Season writing schedule, rubric levels explained, and what Design Award judges look for.

Start the Pathway →

📝

Competition

beginner

Getting Started with the Engineering Notebook

What judges look for, how to write daily entries, and how to build a notebook all season long.

Start Notebook →

📄

Competition

beginner

How to Use the Notebook Template

The 6-color EDP system, how to keep entries in order, maintain the TOC, and set up navigation for judges.

Open Template Guide →

⏰

Competition

beginner

Time Management for V5RC Teams

Session templates, season phase allocations, priority rules, and rookie vs advanced defaults.

Manage Time →

📋

Competition

beginner

Project Management for Student Teams

Ownership maps, milestone templates, sprint boards, risk management, and notebook integration.

Manage Project →

💰

Hardware

beginner

Budget Management & Parts Planning

Cost categories, must-have vs nice-to-have, ordering workflow, pit box checklist, and judge prep.

Plan Parts →

🌞

Competition

beginner

Outreach, Mentoring & Service

What RECF scores, outreach formats that work, and how to document impact.

Build Impact →

🎤

Competition

intermediate

Judge Interview Playbook

How interviews work, the 8 rubric questions, and the team hand-off strategy.

Prep Interview →

🎤

Competition

intermediate

Interview Skills Lab

Practice questions for all 8 rubric areas and a full 10-minute mock interview.

Practice Now →